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Parallel Society #2
Book on the Isle
With a year in the Parallel Society under her belt, Veronica “Roni” Rider still feels like an outsider. Relegated to the basement library, she seeks some way to assert herself and find her place. Her chance arrives when she is sent on a mission into the Infinity Caverns to locate mystical stones in a lost universe. But the journey unearths many of the team’s secrets, and the pressures upon them threaten to destroy their fragile group.
Then they discover the hellspiders and all bets are off.
Then they discover the hellspiders and all bets are off.
210 pages, Paperback
Published February 26, 2018
About the author
Stuart Jaffe
171 books215 followersStuart Jaffe is the madman behind the Nathan K thrillers, Max Porter paranormal-mystery series, The Malja Chronicles, The Bluesman series, and much more. He has written numerous short stories in Fantasy, SF, and Horror. He was also the co-host of The Eclectic Review (http://eclectic.libsyn.com) -- a podcast about science, art, and well, everything.
Stuart lives in rural North Carolina, and for those who keep count, the latest animal listing is as follows: one dog, two cats, one albino corn snake, three aquatic turtles, assorted fish, seven chickens, and a horse. Thankfully, the chickens and the horse do not live inside the house.
Stuart lives in rural North Carolina, and for those who keep count, the latest animal listing is as follows: one dog, two cats, one albino corn snake, three aquatic turtles, assorted fish, seven chickens, and a horse. Thankfully, the chickens and the horse do not live inside the house.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 18, 2026
It's 1 year later, and Roni is feeling more comfortable in her new position - but it's not all she hoped. She's still on the outskirts of the group, and has yet to be taught anything about the society.
When she gets approached by an outside party, Roni starts looking into how the society handles things, and is not happy.
I found Roni and Gram frustrating in this book. Yes, Roni needs some help and to be included in the group dynamics. But when she ran off with a petulant attitude about doing it by herself, I just shook my head. Elliot and Sully are the real stars.
I honestly don't get Gram. She's a very wishy washy character to me. Maybe her new role will bring out a more stable attitude.
The mystery of her father's condition and her lost memories is ramping up as well.
I found the flip in attitude with the external representative at the end to be concerning. They were obviously playing a con, but where are they getting their information, and what are they planning? Why is he so ominous and threatening now?
I hope to find out...
When she gets approached by an outside party, Roni starts looking into how the society handles things, and is not happy.
I found Roni and Gram frustrating in this book. Yes, Roni needs some help and to be included in the group dynamics. But when she ran off with a petulant attitude about doing it by herself, I just shook my head. Elliot and Sully are the real stars.
I honestly don't get Gram. She's a very wishy washy character to me. Maybe her new role will bring out a more stable attitude.
The mystery of her father's condition and her lost memories is ramping up as well.
I found the flip in attitude with the external representative at the end to be concerning. They were obviously playing a con, but where are they getting their information, and what are they planning? Why is he so ominous and threatening now?
I hope to find out...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2020
Keeping our world a safe place is a dangerous and thankless job
Roni has joined her Gram, Elliott and Sully in the Parrallel Society which exists to close the rifts between world and return creatures or relics that do not belong. Roni's researching and organization skills are needed, but she does not seem to respect the immense amount of experience that the other three have and constantly questions their decisions. She seems to think she can do better, but almost died when she took off by herself in the caverns and was attacked by the hillside. Most disturbing is how she constantly chides them about being honest and yet never is herself which has had disastrous consequences many times. One has to wonder if she will ever gain any sound wisdom or get them all killed with her self-centered recklessness.
Roni has joined her Gram, Elliott and Sully in the Parrallel Society which exists to close the rifts between world and return creatures or relics that do not belong. Roni's researching and organization skills are needed, but she does not seem to respect the immense amount of experience that the other three have and constantly questions their decisions. She seems to think she can do better, but almost died when she took off by herself in the caverns and was attacked by the hillside. Most disturbing is how she constantly chides them about being honest and yet never is herself which has had disastrous consequences many times. One has to wonder if she will ever gain any sound wisdom or get them all killed with her self-centered recklessness.
October 30, 2018
Golems and Hellspiders
I was hooked on the Parallel Society from the beginning of the first book. I enjoyed Book on the Isle just as much. There's never a dull moment in a universe created by Stuart Jaffe.
Roni is anxious to learn more about what goes on in the caverns beneath the bookstore. She's tired of being stuck in the library cleaning and cataloging the manuscripts written by Society members who have traveled in the universes that start in the books she is working on. She wants more responsibility, afterall she will be taking over Gram's position one day. Roni gets more than she bargains for in this story.
I was hooked on the Parallel Society from the beginning of the first book. I enjoyed Book on the Isle just as much. There's never a dull moment in a universe created by Stuart Jaffe.
Roni is anxious to learn more about what goes on in the caverns beneath the bookstore. She's tired of being stuck in the library cleaning and cataloging the manuscripts written by Society members who have traveled in the universes that start in the books she is working on. She wants more responsibility, afterall she will be taking over Gram's position one day. Roni gets more than she bargains for in this story.
February 27, 2018
Stuart Jeff he does it again in the second book of the parallel society.
What a cliffhanger…
The parallel society, Roni has been in the Great library for year. Gram is the leader, Elliott has magic and Scully connects with the golems. Eventually Roni will take over.
Each of the gang, enters the caverns for their own purposes. They’re in search of the book to Paradise, as it was told. Elliott was there before, he acts as guide.
The journey is long and fraught with danger.
Fighting monsters takes its toll on each of the gang. Can they save the universe again and become stronger.
What a cliffhanger…
The parallel society, Roni has been in the Great library for year. Gram is the leader, Elliott has magic and Scully connects with the golems. Eventually Roni will take over.
Each of the gang, enters the caverns for their own purposes. They’re in search of the book to Paradise, as it was told. Elliott was there before, he acts as guide.
The journey is long and fraught with danger.
Fighting monsters takes its toll on each of the gang. Can they save the universe again and become stronger.
September 18, 2021
Parallel Society book two, Book on the Isle
The story is strong with well written adventure scenes. I have trouble with the Roni character as she seems ignorant, stubborn and short sighted. She did bring about some much needed change to the team but she is still keeping secrets. I am going to read book three , hoping she gets a little smarter. The story line really is interesting.
The story is strong with well written adventure scenes. I have trouble with the Roni character as she seems ignorant, stubborn and short sighted. She did bring about some much needed change to the team but she is still keeping secrets. I am going to read book three , hoping she gets a little smarter. The story line really is interesting.
March 1, 2018
The stories continue in this second book in the series. So many possibilities and yet Stuart makes sure it is a story first about people and how they interact. Roni continues to evolve and learn and we learn more background on the other main characters. I loved it just as much as the first one and am really looking forward to more in this series.
December 9, 2020
Love the concept of parallel universes.
I like the interaction between the characters in the story. The gap between generations is real and plausible. I like the action and the parallel universe.
I like the interaction between the characters in the story. The gap between generations is real and plausible. I like the action and the parallel universe.
February 25, 2018
Great Book
I really like this series. The author has created a wonderful fantasy world that has books! I can't think of anything better except reading about it.
I really like this series. The author has created a wonderful fantasy world that has books! I can't think of anything better except reading about it.
August 14, 2020
the grandmother granddaughter relationship is getting better - actually all of the relations ships are better
February 11, 2022
The second in the series.
June 19, 2026
Part of the Parallel Society Collection Volume 1.
I read book one (The Infinity Caverns) fairly easily, though I still didn't like any of the character by the end. This book was such a struggle I was rewarding myself with other books as I worked my way through this one. It took four other books to finish Book on the Isle.
The only sympathetic character was Rocky, a rock golem. It was the only character I was rooting for by the end. The core group of four, with the fantastic concept of three older world-protectors bringing on the next generation, were at each others' throats for the whole book, even when they worked together.
If you want a well plotted story, with complicated relationships, you might enjoy this book.
But for me, as much as I usually like Stuart Jaffe series, I'm going to end my journey with the Parallel Society here. The too-stupid-to-live main point of view character and the power struggles between the other three just aren't my cup of bourbon mixed with gin.
I read book one (The Infinity Caverns) fairly easily, though I still didn't like any of the character by the end. This book was such a struggle I was rewarding myself with other books as I worked my way through this one. It took four other books to finish Book on the Isle.
The only sympathetic character was Rocky, a rock golem. It was the only character I was rooting for by the end. The core group of four, with the fantastic concept of three older world-protectors bringing on the next generation, were at each others' throats for the whole book, even when they worked together.
If you want a well plotted story, with complicated relationships, you might enjoy this book.
But for me, as much as I usually like Stuart Jaffe series, I'm going to end my journey with the Parallel Society here. The too-stupid-to-live main point of view character and the power struggles between the other three just aren't my cup of bourbon mixed with gin.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews